Hat-press.



J. "F. BRENNAN.

HAT PRESS.-

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1910.

984,794. Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH THE NORRIS PETERS 120.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITE STATES JAMES F. BRENNAN, OF NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-Panes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 19, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 582,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J earns F. BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Milford, county of Litchfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Hat-Presses, of which the following is a specification,

This invention has for its object to produce a simple and easily operated hat press adapted for general use and especially adapted for pressing straw hats, which can be manufactured and sold so cheaply as to place it within the reach of everyone, thus enabling wearers of straw hats to easily and conveniently press their own hats after cleaning or wearing in a shower.

lVith this and other objects in view I have devised the simple and novel hat press which I will now describe, referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and using reference characters to indicate the several parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel hat press as in use; Fig. 2 a transverse section corresponding therewith, showing a hat in dotted lines; Fig. 8 a. perspective of the operative parts detached from the base; and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the connection of the top plate with the adjusting screw.

The drawing shows the invention as adapted to a hat having a flat top and brim. It will be obvious, however, that the invention is equally applicable to the various other styles of hats in general use by providing operative parts corresponding with the styles of hats to be pressed.

10 denotes the base which may be made of any suitable material as wood, cross veneers or fiber, preferably fiber 011 account of its cheapness. To this base two retaining arms 11 are rigidly secured as by bolts or screws, each retaining arm being provided with an inwardly turned end, indicated by 12. The operative parts comprise a block 13 which must fit the crown of the hat, a top plate 14 and a brim plate 15. The block and the top and brim plates may be made of metal, wood, cross veneers or fiber, but preferably of fiber on account of its cheapness, the block being made hollow but with walls of suflicient thickness to give the necessary rigidity. The brim plate is provided with an oval central opening 16 through which the body of the hat passes.

17 denotes a yoke rigidly secured to the brim plate as by bolts or screws and extending over the central opening. 'I have shown the top of the yoke as braced and strengthened by a center piece 18 bolted thereto. The top plate is swiveled (see Fig. 1) on a screw 19. In the present instance I have shown the lower end of the screw as reduced and pass ing loosely through a metal plate 20 which is sunk into the top plate, the reduced end of the screw being headed down as at 21 to retain the top plate permanently in swiveled engagement with the screw.

22 denotes a strong, slightly concave curved spring which is swiveled on the screw and rests upon plate 20. The screw is provided with a thumb piece 23 for convenience in use.

The operation will be obvious from the drawing. The blocks are furnished at slight expense and are made to fitthe regular sizes of hats. lVhen a hat is to be pressed, the block is placed in the body and then the hat is placed with the brim downward on the base, the long diameter of the body being placed at right angles to a line between the retaining arms. The top plate is raised sufficiently to receive the body, then the brim plate is placed over the brim, the body ex tending through the opening, and then the top plate is lowered by means of the screw into engagement with the top of the body. Spring 23 is then swung into engagement with the inturned ends of the retaining arms, as in Fig. 2, whereby the parts are retained securely in place and the press with the hat therein may be carried about if necessary, it being understood of course that the base is only made large enough to provide sutficient space between the retaining arms for the necessary width of a hat brim and that preferably the only metal parts used are the yoke, the retaining arms, the spring and the screw. The base, block. and top and brim plates being preferably of fiber or other light material, the structure as a whole is very light. Hats may be pressed either wet or dry. If pressed wet they are allowed to dry in the press. To remove a hat from the press it is simply necessary to press down upon the ends of the spring and disengage them from the inturned ends of the retaining arms, turning the spring I slightly out of engagement. The yoke,

' spring, screw, and brim and top plates may then be removed together from the hat, as shown in Fig. 3. The block is then removed from the body and the hat is ready for use.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A hat press comprising a brim plate having an opening through which a hat body may pass and a yoke crossing the opening, a top plate, a screw having threaded engagement with the yoke to which the top plate has swiveled connection, a spring swiveled upon the screw and means engaged by said spring whereby the top plate and brim plate are clamped upon the top and brim of a hat.

2. A hat press comprising a base having retaining arms, a brim plate having an opening through which a hat body may pass and a yoke crossing the opening, a top plate, a screw having threaded engagement with the yoke to which the top plate has swiveled connection and a spring swiveled on the screw and adapted to engage the arms, for the purpose set forth.

3. A hat press comprising a base having retaining arms with inturned ends, a brim plate having an opening through which a hat body may pass and a yoke crossing the opening, a top plate, a screw having threaded engagement with the yoke to which the top plate has swiveled connection and a spring swiveled on the screw and adapted to engage the inturned ends, for the purpose set forth.

4. A hatpress comprising a base havingretaining arms, a brim plate having an opening through which a hat body may pass and a yoke crossing the opening, a center piece carried by the yoke, a screw having threaded engagement with the yoke, a top plate swiveled to the screw and a spring swiveled on the screw, bearing on the center piece and adapted to engage the retaining arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. BRENNAN.

Witnesses J OHN I Aoois, JOHN S. Annie. 

